Hi all. I am a 47 year old female. I suffered with cdiff for 13 months. Vanco helped to control the symptoms, but as soon as I went off, including when I tapered and pulsed, I would relapse. I tried the other, usual antibiotics as well (Flagyl, Xifaxin, and Difficid), with the same results. The antibiotics themselves took a toll, including causing frequent, loose stools. On December 15, 2016 I underwent a FMT and I have been symptom free for one year now.

I underwent unrelated surgery about two months after the FMT and was hospitalized for one week. I was given one dose of antibiotic before the surgery and was in a surgical ICU for one week after, in a room next to a patient with cdiff (different room). I was on some pain medication while in the hospital and about three days before I left they gave me laxatives. My last day there and for two days after I returned home I had terrible diarrhea, and so I sent in a stool sample to my GI doc/ testing center (I had still had an extra kit and order at home). This was a Saturday. By the time my doctor reported the results to me on the following Monday, my symptoms had subsided. But the test was positive- not just for the presence of cdiff, but for the toxins. (I apologize that I forget the names of the tests.) It was as though my gut worked it out on its own; my doctor was not sure what to make of it. Since then, I have been fine.

An added benefit of the FMT is that I was SIBO free for one year as well, which has been wonderful! I had suffered with SIBO for years prior to the cdiff infection, and was being treated with Xifaxin for about two yrs prior. I didn't need need Xifaxin while on the vanco. Just within the past few weeks, I think the SIBO symptoms are back. I have slowed motility and believe that is the underlying cause for me. I am planning to try to treat it with diet because I do not want to go on Xifaxin given a recent history of cdiff. I understand it is sometimes used to treat cdiff, but I still worry it will effect my flora composition in ways that could make me vulnerable to cdiff, which could very well still be in my system (i.e., I may be colonized).

Good luck to everyone suffering, and for those of you considering an FMT, I reccomend it. Mine was done at Boston Medical Center and prep for the colonoscopy was the only difficult part. Thanks for the support you have given me and each other through the forum.

Hi CSHF, thank you for posting your story. I am a 46year old female who had a successful FMT in March 2017. I have a question for you - could you describe your SIBO symptoms to me? You can PM to me if TMI. I have had PI-IBS since my FMT, and at points have wondered if I have SIBO symptoms. I have a appointment to start a year long Digestive Wellness program with a GI specialist and nutritionist starting 1/17. And I plan to ask if I can get the breath test done. Any descriptions or info you could give me about your experience having SIBO would be a help. Thanks! - melanie

Hi Melanie. Because others have mentioned SIBO alongside cdiff, I'll post here in the event it is helpful. My primary SIBO symptom was stomach distension. There was a marked difference in my girth/ waistline. When I first woke up in the morning, my midsection was a different size than it would be later after I ate or drank something. As I understand it, gas was stuck in my small intestine- it did not move through/pass easily (which would have created other problems!), which left me with a gut full of air. I sometimes had a difficult time breathing. My doc thought the air was pressing against my diaphram, making it difficult to breathe. I had more frequent bowel movements throughout the day and they were accompanied by a sense of urgency. For the most part, I did not feel comfortable outside of my home or at least not in a place where I did not have immediate access to a bathroom. I also passed mucus sometimes. Another major symptom was irritability. It was rather intense. I am not usually an irritable person at all, but I felt that way when my symptoms were worse. It was terrible. Before I really knew what it was and before I began treating the SIBO with diet or Xifaxin- in other words, when I was living with active symtoms for a couple of years- I began to feel extremely fatigued. It was the major factor that contributed to my decision to stop working.

By way of clarification for others, my SIBO symptoms started before I ever got cdiff and were corrected once I had the FMT. I continue to be cdiff free, and may be experiencing a recurrence of SIBO now- but I'm not sure because my symptoms could be explained by other problems related to an automimmune disease. In any event, for me, the SIBO is a result of slowed motility.